äänenaallot

Äänenaallot, or sound waves, are mechanical waves that propagate through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. They are caused by vibrations that travel from the source of the sound outwards. These vibrations create regions of compression, where the particles of the medium are pushed closer together, and rarefaction, where the particles are spread further apart. The frequency of these vibrations determines the pitch of the sound, with higher frequencies resulting in higher pitches. The amplitude of the sound wave, which is related to the pressure variation, determines the loudness or intensity of the sound. Humans can typically hear sound waves within a frequency range of approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Sounds outside this range are known as infrasound (below 20 Hz) and ultrasound (above 20,000 Hz). The speed at which sound waves travel depends on the properties of the medium, such as its density and elasticity. For instance, sound travels faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases. The phenomenon of sound waves can be described by concepts such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference, which govern how sound behaves when it encounters obstacles or other sound waves.